As I write this, it has been 9 years to the day I suffered a major health crisis–a hemorrhagic stroke or “brain bleed”! It was to due to a potential lethal combination ofstress plus obesity…and I wasn’t fully aware of the symptoms..or worse yet, I ignored them. BUT I’M STILL HERE! Since then, my life seems to be full of paradoxes. I now believe in miracles and the power they can generate! From my experience(s), I consider my continuing journey of life as a series of opposites. I damn near died; yet I still survived! WHY? I now realize that our Lord has kept me here for reasons only He knows. Everyone runs a full gamut of emotions, from highs to lows. The gap between mine seems to have widened. BUT I’M STILL HERE! I believe I’m the same person inside; but I can’t shake the notion that everyone now views me differently. As a consequence of my stroke, there’s the ever-present possibility of having seizure(s), for which I take many meds to control but I never wanted to be a “pill-popper”. My memory (or maybe more accurately, my recall) of things has changed; Working in the past as a DJ, whenever I heard a song, I could “Name That Tune”, complete with artist and year of release. That has now diminished and frustrates me to no end! I have always taken pride in my work and constantly strove to do my best! Now, I feel like my best is not good enough! BUT I’M STILL HERE! I have physical limitations, which makes things harder for me to do; yet my adrenaline still pumps when I interact with my favorite people or places. I cannot find any gameful employment but thankfully have part-time work that continues my professional experience–and my passion. But, even though I still enjoy the things I always have, the joy and satisfaction I once derived has lessened. My former vibrant lifestyle, which seemed to know no bounds is now just the opposite; I describe it as “4 walls and a computer”. BUT I’M STILL HERE!

I realize I need to exercise and walk a mile as often as I can. In my mind, that doesn’t sound like it’s enough but my doctors tell me that, given my health history, they think it’s pretty impressive. My lack of physical endurance limits the things I want and used to do. I want to drive a car but I no longer own a car so that ain’t happening. Before all this, I could go wherever whenever I wanted. That freedom is now gone. BUT I’M STILL HERE! My health bills are still piling up; if I had the money, I would clear those up before spending money on other less-important things. I can say for certain that I believe in the old adage that “when something bad happens in your life, you find out who your true friends are”–even though I want all my family, friends and even acquaintances to remain the same as they always have (or to become better!) I’ve enjoyed a good life but want more! I tend to be more stubborn but feel like my patience has also improved. I believe I can now differentiate between the truly important things in life vs. the “not-so-much!”. I want things to go better but I feel stronger than ever it’s not good enough! I don’t want pity from other people but I do appreciate their patience in the ways we interact with each other!

The current state of motorsports, of any type or level, is in dire straits. Facilities are either closing completely or drastically reducing their schedules. Expenses for all involved (fans, drivers and owners alike) keep rising to the point where affordability seems to be impossible for many!

There is a long-held notion that “without racers, there would be no show”. On the surface, that sounds plausible enough…but, in my view, the statement is too simplistic and selfish on the part of the competitors. What if was NO place to have the show? The aforementioned popular notion is then rendered moot.

Just as with any other successful business, there are only two ways to maintain the existence of it: cut expenses or increase income! Both have become what seems to be an insurmountable hurdle!

Nearly every major problem doesn’t happen overnight! Rather, they are the result of small problems growing into HUGE, ugly ones! “Band-Aid” fixes only address the current symptoms; they very rarely solve the underlying cause.

The specter of racing facilities closing could obviously become the death knell of the sport! Replacing tracks with newer ones is pretty much out of the question, given the huge investment required. The relatively huge area a track requires is shrinking quickly. Add the hurdles of overcoming of governmental, environmental and noise ordinances (either present or future) is monumental! Toss in the probability of “urban sprawl” over time drastically reduces the chance(s) of ROI (Return On Investment), highly expected by any investor of a major project. I suppose I could also be considered simplistic with my explanation of what I view are cold, hard facts: no matter how serious they claim to be about their involvement in the sport, for driver, it is merely a hobby (Yes, there are those rare few who can earn a decent living off of it). For dedicated, loyal fans, it’s a passionate outlet for “discretionary income”. But for the promoters/owners, their approach to racing must be applied in the cruel, unforgiving business environment!

Another problem is the so-called “graying of the sport”! The age of participants and the fan base is getting older and worse still, the void is not being filled by the younger generations; dwindling to the point of near extinction. With few exceptions, younger people no longer hold the passion or interest in cars (and therefore, racing) as did their older relatives. Gone are the days when driving or owning a car was a rite of passage! (Indeed, there are those who don’t feel the need to obtain a driver’s license). A vehicle is merely a way to get from “points A to B”. Present day vehicular designs encourage drivers to be less involved with actual operation on the road. Video game-like “paddle-shifters” have replaced manual gearboxes, clutches and stick shifts. So-called “driving aids” such as “automatic braking” and “blind spot reduction” are touted as “must have” options and increase the “cool factor”. (and don’t forget the thrill of the automatic parallel parking option, which further reduces human skills that were once deemed necessary for the actual operation of driving a vehicle on the road). “Driver-less” designs are being tested and seem to be just around the corner (pun intended!)

(ADDENDUM)–Then, there’s the recent ruling handed down by a judge in the highly publicized civil suit lodged against 3x NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who was involved in a racing accident held at Canandaigua Speedway 8/9/2014, just outside the Greater Rochester NY area It resulted in death of a fellow competitor and it could have the potential of a permanently negative impact on not just racing but ANY “recreational activity” in New York State. Although Stewart was cleared of criminal charges in the incident, the sitting judge ruled that the civil case could move forward because it was deemed that racing is considered a “recreational activity” (The customary event “waiver” that nearly every track uses (sometimes referred to as “print-and sign”) every participant agrees to, is not legal and therefore CANNOT be enforced.) This decision now exposes any promoter/owner of any “recreational event” to legal action regarding injury or death. It is now almost certain that insurance coverage for race race tracks in New York state may now be prohibitively expensive, (if obtainable at all.) Initially, this impending action might affect only New York state but once the legal precedent is set, it could set off similarly proposed legislation in other states. Auto Racing nationwide might face yet another gigantic hurdle to overcome, which could also hasten its demise!

Maybe I’m the one who is being too simplistic in describing what I perceive to be a serious threat to my favorite pastime. So, it’s possible I could be compared similarly to the “kid crying wolf”. Maybe both are true. Electric automobile racing exists and the interest seems to be growing….But when I see “drone racing” on a TV sports channel becoming increasingly popular, I wonder how much and how soon am I stubbornly getting relegated to the nostalgic “remember when?” phase of life–at least as it applies to auto racing?

A race driver lost his life racing at a local small upstate NY track; normally this kind of sad news wouldn’t be mentioned by most national media outlets. If “Joe Smith” was killed by a “Bill Jones” in a tragic racing accident at a small track anywhere in the U.S., it would barely get a back page column written about it, let alone broadcast on mainstream outlets across the country…Until recently, hardly anyone outside the Empire State (except passionate WNY race fans) had ever heard of Kevin Ward, Jr. Just because a NASCAR driver was involved, it became big news. The twist of irony is that the sanctioning body has NO connection to the small dirt track in upstate NY–NONE, whatsoever! Now, the mainstream media’s handling of this tragedy has tarnished Ward’s memory. Once the big media” leaves the Canandaigua area (hell, the had to learn how to pronounce the city’s name!) They will move on to the next “big story” will be any sense of sanity back in Ontario County NY. But rest assured, they will be back (like circling vultures) whenever Sheriff Pavaro releases the findings of their investigation. It will be like picking off a scab off an injury each time another aspect (such as any possible criminal and/or civil action) occurs. Ward’s family has suffered the most devastating of all personal losses and will likely continue to feel that enormous pain for a very long time. Meanwhile, to the praise of some and utter disdain from others, Tony’s decision to race again came after a self-imposed leave of absence to ponder what happened. Only two people really know what transpired that tragic night: Tony and Kevin…one has been silenced forever and the other has to live with a hollow and painful reminder of how dangerous this sport can be…

In damn near every NASCAR racing-related internet group, inevitably the subject comes up about whether Cup drivers should be allowed to race in the “lower” series…There are some who believe it is perfectly fine to allow it but the are a very vocal few who don’t like it. Not that it matters a whole lot but here’s my take: Is a Nationwide series race a standalone race? YES! Does a car have to be built? YES! Does there need to be an owner to field the car? YES! Does the car need to conform to the rules of the Series? YES! Does there need to be team of builders and fabricators to build that car? YES! (you’re right if you’re sensing a pattern here!) Does the car need to pass both pre-race and post-race inspection? YES! Does the team need sponsorship to fund the effort? YES! Does there need to be a pit crew to service the car during the race? YES! Does the team need a crew chief? YES! Is there a possibility of parts failure with the car (just like any Cup race)? YES! Can accidents (whether “self-inflicted” or caused by others) prevent the car from finishing the race? YES! Do other drivers have just as much of a chance to win a race, given the known (and unknown) variables in a race? YES! Is it a mistake to believe that considering all of the above that a Cup driver is somehow guaranteed to win a race? YES! Does ANY driver who wants to be the best need to beat the best? YES! Should ANY driver be allowed to drive in any race they choose YES! Is my rant finally over? YES!!!